[Rick Masters]

I am exploring the idea of starting an Experimental Aircraft Association chapter using hang gliders equipped with very inexpensive electric glide-extension systems.
These fall into the purview of the EAA and I am getting the early impression that we would be welcomed with open arms into this organization.
Membership is $40.

A glide-extension system is not a sustainer system.
It can be virtually any system producing a measurable amount of thrust.
(An EAA FAR Part 103 ultralight can also be operated without the glide extension unit!)
This provides a rational for moving recreational hang gliding from the USHPA to the EAA.
I have more questions than answers at this point.
But there are clearly a lot of advantages for a split-off hang gliding association to get involved with the EAA.
I'm meeting on my own, not as a Hawk, with some of these guys tomorrow to see what they think.
___________________________
In the U.S., flying an ultralight doesn't require a license or a medical certificate of any kind, providing the aircraft meets the Federal Aviation Regulation called Part 103. Part 103 defines an ultralight as an aircraft that meets the following criteria:

Seats: 1
Max. Empty Weight (Powered Aircraft): 254 lbs
Max. Empty Weight (Unpowered Aircraft): 155 lbs
Max. Fuel Capacity: 5 Gallons
Max. Speed @ Full Power: 55 knots
Max. Stall Speed (Power Off): 24 knots

If the aircraft has more than 1-seat or exceeds any of the above criteria, is not an ultralight, and thus not eligible for operation under Part 103.

These are the legal rules by which we fly; they are the most lenient in the world. These privileges, however, carry responsibilities: while there are no specific legal requirements, ultralight pilots must be trained just like any other pilot.

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is a membership association with many programs and services to help members, including:

Flight Training Resources
EAA offers several resources for learning to fly an ultralight including free, downloadable guides and a listing of flight instructors willing to teach someone to fly an ultralight, both available at EAA.org/Ultralights.

Registration Safety Programs
EAA’s ultralight registration programs for student, pilot, and vehicle registration support the self-regulation intent of FAR Part 103.
EAA members can register free of charge and help ensure the continued freedoms under Part 103.

EAA Ultralight & Light-Sport Aircraft Council
The council consists of EAA members who volunteer their time to share their knowledge and passion for ultralight members’ dreams of building and flying ultralights.

EAA AirVenture Ultralight/Lightplane/Rotorcraft Area
Each year EAA hosts the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
A very special part of the convention grounds, called the Fun Fly Zone, is dedicated to ultralight, light-plane, and rotorcraft enthusiasts and includes a grass runway.

Membership Services
EAA staff members who are pilots and enthusiasts are ready to help answer your questions and help you find the information you need.

Government Representation
EAA’s government advocacy team brought together industry and the FAA to create the ultralight regulation Part 103 back in 1982.
This continues today; EAA remains dedicated to supporting the ultralight enthusiast and working with the federal government to protect our freedoms under Part 103.

Sport Aviation Magazine
EAA’s monthly member magazine. Contained within its pages is Experimenter, dedicated to sharing knowledge and building experiences, including reports on the ultralight and lightplane community.

EAA Ultralight Chapters
EAA members form chapters and meet in your local area on a regular basis.

EAA Forums
An online place to share information and ask questions. A section is dedicated to ultralight enthusiasts.

EAA Hints for Homebuilders
Weekly online how-to video tips on all areas of aircraft construction.

EAA Webinars
Online presentations with technical experts, industry leaders, and others provide additional knowledge and information.
To become an EAA member, visit https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-membership

[Bob Kuczewski]

Good work Rick!!

You can mention that you might be able to bring on a few (dozen? hundred?) members who are looking for alternatives to USHPA. I'd consider joining myself ... especially if it includes any kind of insurance to fly sites that currently require it.

Please keep us posted.

[Rick Masters]

I was thinking in the order of several thousand.

My understanding is that EAA members typically scoff at the idea of insurance for day to day flying.

The usefulness of the EAA to our situation would not be insurance, but their muscle and historical success in asserting it is not necessary.

Another significant aspect of their ultralight segment is that it has experienced a severe fall-off since two-place ultralights were banned by the FAA on September 1, 2004. This was due in large part to people not following the rules of FAR Part 103 and using two-place "fat" ultralights for purposes other than instruction. Sound familiar?

In my mind, it would seem illogical for the EAA not to seize an opportunity to fill the gap caused by dwindling ultralight numbers. But like I said, I really don't know. Maybe they have a historical arrangement to direct hang glider pilots to the USHPA. If they do, we might get around that with glide extending propulsion systems.

In terms of the opportunity hang gliding presents to the EAA, these folks are, for the most part, tied to their flight parks. They enjoy motoring around for half an hour, then returning to land. An influx of ultralight soaring pilots would no doubt invigorate the organization, not just by presenting new ways of thinking about flying, but providing a forgotten way of training in the progression of the stages historically used in learning to fly. Since September 1, 2004, learning to fly has gotten a lot more expensive and the fall-ff in ultralight membership is a direct result. Clearly, it seems to me, they would be benefited by the active participation of hang glider pilots.

When you realize that all hang gliders are experimental aircraft, you have to ask yourself, why hasn't this happened already?

[Bob Kuczewski]

I was thinking in the order of several thousand.

I like that kind of thinking!!  

The usefulness of the EAA to our situation would not be insurance, but their muscle and historical success in asserting it is not necessary.
...
Clearly, it seems to me, they would be benefited by the active participation of hang glider pilots.

I surely like the idea of breaking our public lands free of USHPA's monopoly insurance grip. If we can join forces for that, I'm all for it.

When you realize that all hang gliders are experimental aircraft, you have to ask yourself, why hasn't this happened already?

u$hpa.

Please keep exploring this possibility Rick. Let us know what we can do to open a dialog with that group.

[eagle]

I'll Give a 50%
I Guess I Gotta Stamp It

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And I am forever watching

[Frank Colver]

Rick, a while back on this forum, when I proposed a small electric motor & prop to extend the glide on my hang glider, but not big enough to sustain flight, you po-pooed the idea, said it was dangerous, etc.

What changed in your mind?

Is it now a good idea but it wasn't back then?

Please splain.

Frank

[Rick Masters]

I don't remember, Frank. It may have been related to thrust vectors.
A lot of folks got in trouble with power nose-overs in the early days.
Or ir may have been related to Li-Ion batteries potentially catching fire in the air.
Or it may have been from a purist's viewpoint regarding power in general.

But Insofar as glide extenders or sustainers, I've always liked the idea of being able to reach the next soarable ridge or thermal generator.
The sailplane folks are embracing this.
It is not meant for self-launch.



They are retrofitting this little motor unit to the front of existing sailplanes.
The prop attaches to the hinges on either side and folds back into a slot when off.



Here is how the props attach:

http://www.front-electric-sustainer.com/Manuals/FES%20DIS%20P1%20102%20PROPELLER%20manual%20v1.2.pdf

More:

http://www.front-electric-sustainer.com/

[eagle]

Interesting topic
Always wanted a Solar or PowerPack,... Electric powered Hang Glider
Already,... RC planes are Flying them Non Motorized flight parks Airspace
OMG ~ the power assist problem might be if Paragliders had them for every time they got low

Even if I called it ...
Emergency Power assist as for safety

Here's a few that I Like

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Electric Clean.jpg (12.46 KiB) Viewed 8759 times

Creative smaller Ideas

Archaeopteryx - E - motor.png (274.58 KiB) Viewed 8759 times

I Bet we see a lot more, with the drone market growing
Electric is now becoming an accepted form of flight

[Frank Colver]

I fly electric assist RC gliders at my desert place and land them in my driveway, using big wing flaps.

What I like a lot is the ability to launch under high power and then level off at 100 feet or so and then cruise at low power, just sustaining, until I hit a thermal. The lift is very easy to see because the model is flying at zero sink when it hits the lift, so 100% of the vertical velocity of the thermal is creating very visible altitude gain.

Once the model hits the thermal I shut off power and soar in the lift zone. When I lose the lift zone, I go back to the zero sink e-power level and cruise upwind until I hit the next thermal.

Frank

BTW - I'l take at least one e-RC sailplane to Cape Kiwanda with me.

[SamKellner]

Please keep exploring this possibility Rick. Let us know what we can do to open a dialog with that group.

or